A broken link (also known as a link rot, rotten link, dead links or 404 errors,) is a hyperlink that no longer points to the intended webpage. This can happen when the webpage or website that the link is pointing to is removed, relocated, or changed in a way that breaks the link. Broken links can be frustrating for users because they can’t access the information they were seeking, and they can also negatively impact the user experience and the credibility of a website.

Moreover, broken links can pose a significant threat to cybersecurity because they can lead to phishing attacks and malware downloads. A phishing attack is a type of online scam in which an attacker tries to trick the victim into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial information, by pretending to be a legitimate organization or individual. Malware is software that is designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.

Broken links may seem like a small and insignificant problem, but they can actually pose a significant threat to cybersecurity. We demonstrate in a preivous research that broken link hijacking is a vast opportunity available for cybercriminal, concerning hunderds of millions of websites. In this article, we will explore how broken links can be used to launch phishing attacks and malware downloads, and what you can do to protect yourself from these types of attacks.

Phishing attacks enabled by broken links

Phishing attacks enabled by broken links are a serious threat to cybersecurity. A phishing attack is a type of online scam in which an attacker tries to trick the victim into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial information, by pretending to be a legitimate organization or individual. One way that broken links can be used to launch a phishing attack is by redirecting the user to a fake website that looks legitimate but is actually controlled by the attacker.

For example, let’s say you receive an email from your bank asking you to click on a link to update your account information. You may not think twice about clicking on the link, especially if the email appears to be legitimate. However, if the link is broken and redirects you to a fake website, you may inadvertently enter your login credentials and other sensitive information into the fake website, which the attacker can then use to gain access to your account and steal your personal information.

Another common tactic used in phishing attacks enabled by broken links is to send an email or message that appears to be from a trusted source, such as a colleague or friend, with a link to a malicious website. If you click on the link, you may be directed to a fake website that asks you to enter your login credentials or other sensitive information.

Phishing attacks enabled by broken links can be difficult to detect because they often use sophisticated tactics to trick the victim into believing that the email or message is legitimate. However, there are a few signs that you can look for to help protect yourself from these types of attacks:

• Spelling and grammar mistakes: Legitimate emails and messages from organizations and individuals are typically free of spelling and grammar mistakes. If you receive an email or message with these types of errors, it could be a sign of a phishing attack.
• Suspicious links: If you receive an email or message with a link, hover your mouse over the link to see where it is actually going to take you. If the link looks suspicious or does not match the text of the link, it could be a sign of a phishing attack.
• Requests for sensitive information: Legitimate organizations and individuals will not typically ask for sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial information, through email or messages. If you receive a request for this type of information, it could be a sign of a phishing attack.

To protect yourself from phishing attacks enabled by broken links, it is important to be cautious when clicking on links, especially if they are from unfamiliar sources. It is also a good idea to use a reputable antivirus program and keep it up to date to protect against malware.

Additionally, it is important to use strong, unique passwords for all online accounts and to enable two-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of security by requiring the user to provide a second form of identification, such as a code sent to their phone, before logging in. By following these simple precautions, you can help protect yourself from phishing attacks enabled by broken links and other cyber threats.

Malware downloads

Cybercriminals can leverage broken links to infect an organization’s network with malware, which can have serious consequences for the organization and its employees. Malware is software that is designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. One way that cybercriminals can use broken links to infect an organization’s network with malware is by sending an email or message to employees with a link to a malicious website. If the employee clicks on the link, they may be directed to a website that downloads malware onto their computer.

For example, you may receive an email or see an advertisement for a new app that promises to improve your productivity or protect your device from viruses. You may be tempted to download the app, especially if it appears to be from a reputable source. However, if the link to download the app is broken and redirects you to a website that downloads malware onto your computer, you may not realize that you have been the victim of an attack until it is too late.

This type of attack is often disguised as a legitimate download, such as a software update or a free app. Once the malware is installed on the employee’s computer, it can spread to other computers on the organization’s network, potentially infecting the entire network. This can have serious consequences for the organization, such as loss of data, disruption of business operations, and financial loss.

Abandoned projects and libraries

Broken links can be used to infect application development during the software development lifecycle by leveraging abandoned open source projects or abandoned libraries, potentially compromising the security of the final product.

Open source software is software that is freely available for anyone to use and modify, and it is often used as a component in the development of new software applications. However, if an open source project or library is abandoned, it may not receive updates or security patches, leaving it vulnerable to vulnerabilities and exploits.

One way that broken links can be used to infect application development is by redirecting developers to an abandoned open source project or library that has been compromised with malicious code. If the developer downloads and incorporates the compromised project or library into their development process, the malicious code can be unknowingly incorporated into the final product.

Another way that broken links can be used to infect application development is by redirecting developers to a fake website that appears to be a legitimate open source project or library, but is actually controlled by a cybercriminal. If the developer downloads and incorporates the fake project or library into their development process, they may unknowingly introduce malicious code into the final product.

To protect against the risks of using broken links to infect application development, it is important for developers when calling libraries with links, especially if they are from unfamiliar sources. Additionally, developers should carefully evaluate the security and maintenance status of any open source project or library before using it in their development process. By following these best practices, developers can help protect their application development process from cyber threats enabled by broken links and abandoned open source projects or libraries.

Protecting yourself from broken link attacks

Broken links, also known as dead links or 404 errors, are links on a website or in an email that lead to a page or resource that no longer exists or cannot be accessed. These types of links can pose significant cybersecurity risks as they can be used by cybercriminals to trick users into visiting malicious websites or downloading malicious files. In this article, we will explore various proactive and reactive measures that can be taken to mitigate the risks posed by broken links, including phishing, malware download, and abandoned open source projects and libraries.

Proactive measures to mitigate the risks posed by broken links include:

1. Regularly checking and updating links: One of the most effective ways to prevent broken links is to regularly check and update the links on your website or in your emails. This can be done manually or by using tools such as LinkChecker or W3C Link Checker.
2. Using redirects: If you need to remove a page or resource from your website, it is a good idea to redirect the old link to a relevant, updated page rather than leaving it as a dead link. This helps to ensure that users are not presented with a 404 error when they click on the link.
3. Implementing link shorteners: Link shorteners can be useful in reducing the risk of broken links as they allow you to redirect users to a new location if the original link becomes broken.
4. Verifying the authenticity of links: To prevent users from being tricked into clicking on malicious links, it is important to verify the authenticity of any links before sharing them. This can be done by hovering over the link to see where it leads or by manually typing in the link to ensure that it goes to the correct location.

Reactive measures to mitigate the risks posed by broken links include:

1. Monitoring for broken links: Regularly monitoring your website or emails for broken links can help you identify and fix any issues as soon as they occur.
2. Updating or removing broken links: If you identify a broken link, it is important to either update it to a new, working link or remove it altogether. Leaving a broken link on your website or in an email can increase the risk of users being directed to malicious websites or downloading malicious files.
3. Providing an alternative: If you are unable to fix a broken link, it is a good idea to provide users with an alternative way to access the information or resource that was originally intended to be provided by the broken link.
4. Implementing phishing prevention measures: Broken links can be used as part of phishing attacks, in which cybercriminals use fake emails or websites to trick users into disclosing sensitive information or downloading malware. To prevent these types of attacks, it is important to implement phishing prevention measures such as educating users on how to spot phishing attempts, using anti-phishing software, and implementing two-factor authentication.
5. Updating software and open source libraries: Broken links can also occur when open source projects or libraries are abandoned or no longer maintained. To prevent these types of issues, it is important to regularly update software and libraries to ensure that they are secure and free of vulnerabilities.

In summary, broken links can pose significant cybersecurity risks as they can be used by cybercriminals to trick users into visiting malicious websites or downloading malicious files. To mitigate these risks, it is important to implement both proactive and reactive measures such as regularly checking and updating links, using redirects, implementing link shorteners, verifying the authenticity of links, monitoring for broken links, updating or removing broken links, providing an alternative, implementing phishing prevention measures, and updating software and open source libraries.

By following these simple precautions, you can help protect yourself from broken link attacks and other cyber threats. Stay safe online!